Last Updated on March 15, 2026 by omgbart
My skin responds well to retinoids. Most of them, actually. I've only ever felt like backing down once, after upgrading my Tazorac cream from 0.05% to 0.1% strength. For well over a decade I've hopped around various formulas, both Rx and OTC, and achieved noticeably positive results without the usual side effects: dryness, flaking, redness.
That said, I know prescription strength retinoids can be a lot to handle. And OTC options are a minefield, especially if you don't know your Vitamin A derivatives. Where do you start? Retinal. Say hello to the Maelove Moonlight Retinal Super Serum.
What is Maelove Moonlight?
Maelove may be best known for its Glow Maker Serum, an antioxidant powerhouse often compared to the much pricier SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. The brand has since added a retinoid to the lineup: Moonlight, an overnight serum powered by Retinaldehyde. Retinal for short. It's a Vitamin A derivative that sits a step above Retinol in strength and efficacy, requiring only one conversion step to become Retinoic Acid versus two for Retinol. That makes it faster acting. And in my experience, still gentle.
It took me years to fully understand retinoids — how they work, how they differ, and how to navigate the marketing noise around them. The two graphics below break it down better than most brand copy ever will.
What does Maelove Retinal do?
Retinoids stimulate collagen synthesis — our bodies slow down significantly in producing this cell-binding protein after 30 — which results in firmer, bouncier looking skin. They're also proven to work on acne-prone skin, dull and uneven tone and texture, and enlarged pores. As someone dealing with more than a few of those concerns, I've been genuinely impressed with Maelove Moonlight, powered by 0.11% Retinaldehyde. It quickly became my go-to on nights I take a break from my Rx retinoid.
What’s in Maelove Moonlight?
The bright yellow serum-lotion hybrid (and yes, that yellow hue is very much a retinoid flex) is packed with Retinaldehyde alongside supporting ingredients including Cranberry, Cloudberry, and Green Tea Leaf Extracts, Magnolia Seed Oil, and Niacinamide. Per Jackie Kim, the Maelove founder I had the pleasure of chatting with before the launch, Moonlight has a two-year shelf life.
Why Moonlight Retinal works for me
What I like about Maelove Moonlight is how lightweight it feels. Suggested for nighttime use, it layers well under my peptide moisturizer or any of my favorite face oils. Do add a moisturizer on top though — Moonlight can be a tad drying on its own. After a few weeks of every-other-day application, my skin feels noticeably smoother, brighter, and more even. Pores take the longest to show improvement but I'm not giving up.
Consistency is everything with retinoids. It can take 2-3 months to see visible changes. The good news: I've experienced no dryness or redness at all.
Maelove is also very budget friendly
As someone who enjoyed absolutely nothing about the affordable retinol formulas from The Ordinary, I've become skeptical of suspiciously cheap launches. It doesn't help that the retinal cream I've been using almost all year is $200. In its defense, it's a gorgeous nighttime moisturizer. The Maelove Moonlight serum is a steal and a solid entry point into retinoids. Three things to remember when your bottle arrives: stick to nighttime use, moisturize right after, and always wear broad spectrum sunscreen during the day.
$34.95 (30ml dropper bottle) at mealove.com
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no cost to you. It helps keep my mist habit funded and this blog running. Thank you for reading.
